by: Fr Jean Rollin Marie I. Flores, SSP
Today (October 29, 2023) and every last Sunday of October, we celebrate the Solemnity of Jesus, Divine Master. This Solemnity, otherwise known as Divine Master Sunday, was officially recognized by the Holy See on September 24, 1958, just a few days before then Pope Pius XII died on October 9. The recognition was the result of the request of Blessed James Alberione, founder of the Pauline Family (four religious congregations and six aggregated institutes), whose spirituality, as he himself proposed, is centered on Jesus, Divine Master, the Way, the Truth and the Life. Hence, this Solemnity is celebrated specifically, though not exclusively, by the members of Pauline Family around the world. The Pauline Family, inspired by Blessed James Alberione and relying on his prayerful intercession, aims at intensifying this spirituality in the hearts of all people and diffusing its essence to the whole Church and in the whole world.
Today, we, the devotees of the Shrine of Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life, do not only celebrate the Solemnity of Jesus, Divine Master, but also give praise and thanks to God as one family for the coming Silver Jubilee (25 years anniversary) of the dedication and consecration of this Shrine next year. Let us resolve that our devotion may not be limited to external piety like attending Masses at the Shrine, praying the novenas and rosaries, financial support for the Shrine and the rectory and the likes. Equally or even more important is for our devotion to be manifested in our constant and consistent striving to be conformed to Jesus our Divine Master.
At this point we have to take note that even as the Shrine is dedicated to Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life, the Solemnity which we celebrate today and which commemorates the feast day of the Shrine is in honor of Jesus in his title “Divine Master”. This is due to the unique contribution of Blessed James Alberione who first linked the title of Jesus “Master” with the so-called trinomial “Way, Truth and Life”. Jesus claims this title “Master” for himself as he says, “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord’ and you are right for so I am” (Jn 13: 13). He also says “Do not be called masters for you have only one Master, the Christ” (Mt 23: 10). In this connection, the icon of the Divine Master consigned by Blessed James Alberione to the Pauline family and by extension to the Church is Jesus standing on the world with the open book of the Gospel in his hands on which is written “Ego sum, Via, Veritas et Vita” (I am the Way, the Truth and the Life [Jn 14: 6]). In this image, Jesus is seen as a travelling Teacher, always on the move and pouring out his blessings of the Good News along the way.
Jesus, who came from God and the Son of God, is the only one who can teach us the Way to the Father. He himself says, “No one comes to the Father except through me” (Jn 14: 6). He is not just one of the many ways to the Father; He is the Way and there is no other. There should be no doubt about it – Jesus, our Divine Master is the primary and only answer to our search for direction, for something real and something that lasts forever.
Jesus, Divine Master. Have mercy on us!
Archdiocesan Shrine of Jesus 